When I first decided to pursue freelance writing, I didn’t have a plan. The only “plan” I had was to save up a little bit of money and then go travel around the world while working remotely.
The reality, however, is that freelancing is hard. It’s really hard and it’s way harder than most people think it is (especially at first). But despite all the obstacles in your way, you should still do it anyway. Why? Because being a freelancer offers one major benefit that outweighs all the others such as freedom.
But if freelancing is so hard, why do people choose it?. This post will explain why freelancing is hard, and why you should do it.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Freelancing can be challenging due to irregular income, client management, and self-employment taxes. |
| Despite the difficulties, freelancing offers flexibility, autonomy, and diverse project opportunities. |
| Self-discipline and motivation are crucial to succeed as a freelancer. |
| Networking and building a strong portfolio are essential for finding stable clients. |
| Maintaining work-life balance requires setting boundaries and prioritizing self-care. |
Why Freelancing Is Hard
Freelancing is hard. Hard. It’s not only the long hours and working on your own that makes it difficult, but there are several other reasons freelancing is hard to do when you’re starting. Here are some of those reasons:
Building a successful freelance career requires choosing the right platform for your skills. If you’re unsure about whether to go with Upwork or Fiverr, our guide on Is Upwork or Fiverr Right for You? can help you make an informed decision.
Freelancing Is Hard Because You’re Your Boss
Being your boss is awesome. The freedom to work when you want, how you want, and with whom you want is truly an amazing thing. But being your boss also means that there are more responsibilities on your shoulders than if someone else was calling the shots.
As a freelancer, it’s up to you to make sure that everything gets done whether it involves marketing or finances or even just keeping yourself motivated enough to get out of bed in the morning and work hard every day without getting discouraged from rejection or failure (which happens).
Freelancing Is Hard Because You Have No One To Answer To
Freelancing is hard because you have no one to answer to. That’s both a good thing and a bad thing.
Good: You’re responsible for your success, failure, and learning. Bad: You’re responsible for your happiness, freedom, and life balance (or lack thereof).
- Success feels amazing when it happens and when it doesn’t happen (or as often as we’d like). But that’s okay! We can learn from our failures just as much as we do from our successes.
- Learning new things is super fun and rewarding! The more I learn about my industry or skillset, the better I feel about myself and my career looks brighter than ever before.
Freelancing Is Hard Because You’re Working While Everyone Else Is Playing
The most important thing you can do is to work hard. Freelancing isn’t easy, but it’s not hard either; it’s just a grind. The only way to make money as a freelancer is to put in the hours (or hire someone else who will) and learn how to sell yourself effectively.
Once you’ve put in your hours, though, there’s no guarantee that anyone will buy what you’re selling; as with any kind of sales job, there are no guarantees when it comes down to closing the sale.
You might have all the skills under the sun but still, find yourself struggling because clients aren’t interested in what they think they need at that moment in time or clients may not be able or willing to pay what they promised when they committed their budget months before starting work with you on this project (which happened me once).
The most important thing any freelancer can do is set goals – both big picture goals (e.g., how much money do I want each month?) and daily/weekly/monthly micro-goals (e..g., how many emails should I send today?). And then discipline themselves accordingly!
Understanding the dynamics of the gig economy is crucial for freelancers. Learn more about the gig economy and how it impacts your freelancing journey in our article on Freelancers: What Can You Tell Us About the Gig Economy?.
Freelancing Is Hard Because No Matter How Much You Work, There’s Always More Work To Do
Even if you set goals and a schedule, there will still be more to do than you can handle on your own. It’s tempting to think that if only you worked harder or longer, everything would go smoothly. But freelancing is hard because of the way it connects with other areas of life:
- There are no fixed office hours. When you have a full-time job, the workday ends when you clock out at 5 pm and even though it might feel like an eternity until Monday morning rolls around again, at least your employer won’t expect anything from you outside those hours.
Freelancers don’t have that luxury; we work around the clock because we don’t get paid just for punching a clock.
- You aren’t getting paid enough by your employer/client to cover all of your expenses (rent/mortgage; food bills; car payments). Even if they did pay us what our services are worth (which many don’t), most of us have other financial responsibilities such as student loans or mortgages.
That need to be kept current every month for them not to be considered delinquent and these obligations often conflict with how much time we want to spend working on client projects instead!
Freelancing Is Hard Because You Will Be Rejected More Times Than You Can Count
You will be rejected more times than you can count. You’re going to get turned down for assignments, and you’re going to have that big project fall through at the last minute.
You may even have a client who just isn’t happy with your work and doesn’t know how to tell you. It happens, and it hurts but if your heart is in the right place, it’s all part of the game. If this happens to you, don’t take it personally.
Remember: It’s not your fault. It was never your fault; it was just business and there will always be more business out there waiting for someone like yourself with a good attitude and some talent (and maybe even a little luck).
Curious about what freelancing entails and what you should expect as a freelancer? Check out our comprehensive guide on What Freelancing Is Like and What to Expect to gain valuable insights and tips for your freelance journey.
Freelancing Is Hard Because People Aren’t Taking It Seriously
If you’re a freelancer, it can be hard to find your place in the world. You have to continually advocate for yourself as an individual and not just another cog in some big machine.
People don’t take freelancing seriously enough; they think of it as something easy and fun, or they see it as a way to make extra money on the side. But if you want your career in freelancing to go anywhere, then you need to remember: Freelancing is hard because people aren’t taking it seriously enough.
Freelancing Is Hard Because No One Knows Who You Are
If you’re an entrepreneur, you have to build a brand. You have to build trust with customers and clients. You have to build a network of people who can recommend your services.
And if you want to make money from freelancing, then you also need followers who will be willing to pay for what you offer (and maybe even give it away for free).
In other words: You’ve got a lot of work ahead of you.
Freelancing Is Hard Because It Takes Years Of Consistent Effort To Build A Business And A Brand
It takes time to build a brand. It takes time to build a business. It takes time to build your reputation. It takes time to build your knowledge, skills, and abilities as you work in the field on projects that you’re passionate about, but aren’t necessarily paying the bills ye
Because they’re not high-profile enough for clients with deep pockets who want only the best possible results at all costs without compromise on quality or speed of delivery because they don’t understand how freelancers can do so much with so little – often more efficiently than employees could ever manage!
Freelancing Is Hard Because There Are So Many Distractions
This is a problem that most freelancers will face, no matter what they do or how much they earn. It can be hard to keep focused when there are so many distractions out there: social media, other people’s opinions, and even your thoughts are all vying for your attention every minute of the day.
To make matters worse, some of these distractions are internal (like being too critical of yourself) while others are external (like an exciting but unrelated project). For freelancing to work, you need the focus and determination needed for any job but those qualities need extra effort when faced with all those distracting forces.
Why You Should Do Freelancing Anyway
Freelancing has gotten a bad rap for some reasons. However, as someone who’s done it for years, I can say that the upsides always outweigh the downsides. With that in mind, here are the most important things to consider before getting started as a freelancer (and if you have any questions or concerns at all, don’t hesitate to reach out!)
You Can Work Anywhere
If you’re a freelancer, the world is your office. You can work from anywhere in the world. The beauty of working online is that you don’t have to be at an office to get your job done.
You can work from home, which gives you more time with family and friends. You can also take calls on video conference calls so that people who want to meet up with you won’t have to travel far just for a little bit of business talk.
If you hate working from home because it gets lonely sometimes or there are too many distractions around, then maybe working out in public places might interest you more! This is another option: find a coffee shop or even go sit outside on those nice sunny days while listening to music while getting some work done at the same time (just remember not to forget your headphones before leaving).
If there aren’t any nearby shops near where you live, consider taking a vacation somewhere warm and sunny you’ll be motivated by all these beautiful things around everywhere.
Deciding to leave a stable job and start freelancing can be daunting but rewarding. Discover the personal journey of one freelancer in our article on Why I Quit My Full-Time Job to Start Freelancing and find inspiration for your own career path.
It Will Help You Grow Professionally
Freelancing is a great way to grow professionally. You will be able to learn new skills and work on projects you are passionate about. You can also find clients that respect and admire your work.
Freelancing is a great way to make connections with other freelancers, or even companies who want help with their business strategies or campaigns. It’s also important to note that when you freelance, there are no relationships in place, so if something goes wrong, it’s all on you!
You Can Make More Money Than With A Regular Job
You can charge more for your time. This is obvious, but it’s a good starting point. Let’s say that you’re currently making $50 an hour at your day job and you do freelance work on the side. You find someone who pays $100 per hour for the same task you do at work.
That’s great! Maybe this person has more money than your employer does and doesn’t care about how much they spend, or maybe they just like working with people who are better than them (you).
Either way, if you’re charging more than what someone would pay for a similar service elsewhere, it means that customers value what you’re offering over other options and will happily pay up.
This holds even if the client ends up asking for fewer hours than originally agreed upon: as long as their project is completed successfully within budget (or ahead of schedule), then both parties have reason to be satisfied with their arrangement and may come back together again in future projects!
You’ll Broaden Your Network
A good network is one of the most valuable assets you can have. It’s not just about having people who can do things for you, but also about being able to connect with others on a personal level.
Freelancing helps you build up your network in ways that traditional work just doesn’t provide. You’ll meet new people and make new connections, learn new skills, and be able to work with more people because of the variety of projects that come along. You’ll even get to work with people who wouldn’t be within your normal reach otherwise.
You’ll Learn To Be Disciplined
When you’re freelancing, you have to be disciplined. You need to get up every morning and start working on your projects.
If you don’t work hard, then no one will want to hire you again. That’s why being a freelancer is so good for your career it forces you to be more responsible than other employees would be because they always have a paycheck coming in even if they slack off at work!
There’s A Sense Of Fulfillment In Doing Great Work — For Yourself
Playing it safe and doing a job you don’t love can be pretty boring. So, why not try something new? Freelancing offers the chance to do what you love and work on projects that are exciting for you — without having to answer to anyone but yourself (and your clients).
It’s easy to get lost in the daily grind of being an employee at a company where everyone’s goals may not align with yours. And while every day isn’t going to be sunshine and rainbows when freelancing either there will be days when things aren’t going your way but it’s still worth it.
It Allows You To Channel Your Passion Into Something You Enjoy
When you work on something that you are passionate about, it makes the process more enjoyable. Plus, if you are good at what you do, then there is no doubt that the quality of your work will be much higher.
And when both of these things happen in tandem when you love what you’re doing and can make it great then this creates a positive feedback loop for yourself which ultimately leads to even more enjoyment and fulfillment.
It’s not just about making money though; freelancing gives us an opportunity to be creative with our own lives as well as use our skills and expertise to help others in need or those who aren’t able yet willing but possible someday soon (like when they get older).
You Can Travel And Work At The Same Time
You can work from anywhere. This is one of the biggest benefits of freelancing. You get to choose where you want to work, which makes it possible to live a location-independent lifestyle.
It’s also great for people who are into traveling and exploring different places around the world because you don’t need to worry about being tied down by a 9-5 job or having to ask for time off from your boss every time you want to go away on holiday.
The future of work is shifting towards freelancing, and there are compelling reasons to embrace it. Explore the various factors contributing to this trend in our thought-provoking article, The Future of Work Will Be Freelance: Reasons, and prepare for the evolving job landscape.
No More Office Politics
It’s a fact of life: working in an office means dealing with office politics. That’s why freelancing is an ideal job for those who want to avoid it.
When you’re working in an office, there are always people who will try to take credit for your ideas or sabotage your project. You’ll also have to deal with gossiping coworkers, which can make the workplace feel hostile and toxic especially if the coworker is someone you consider a friend.
Freelancing offers you the chance to work on projects that don’t feature any of these negative aspects, since freelancers aren’t required to interact with one another unless they choose to do so (or if their clients request it).
Final Thoughts
I hope that this list has helped you to realize that freelancing is hard and why you should do it. It’s not an easy thing to do, and it takes a lot of effort, but it can be rewarding in the end.
If you want to be a successful freelancer then you have to put in the time and effort necessary for success. There will always be those who don’t understand what you do or how much work goes into being your boss, but if they knew they would probably be doing the same thing!
Further Reading
Why is Freelancing So Hard?: Discover the challenges and difficulties that freelancers often face in their careers and gain insights into how to overcome them.
Why Freelancing May Not Be Right for You: Not sure if freelancing is the best fit for your career goals? This article explores the factors to consider before diving into freelancing.
Pros and Cons of Freelancing: Understand the advantages and disadvantages of freelancing as a career path to make informed decisions about your professional journey.
People Also Ask
How Do I Get Started Freelancing?
You can start by looking for jobs on sites like Upwork or Guru. These sites have an algorithm that matches you with jobs that are a good fit for your skills. They also let you create a portfolio of the work you’ve done in the past so clients can see what kind of work you specialize in before hiring you!
What’s Your Motivation For Freelancing?
Freelancing is a great way to make some extra cash, but it’s more than that. I think it’s important to have a reason for doing it beyond just making money. When you’re working on something that you care about, there’s no reason not to put all of your efforts into it!
How Do You Get Clients?
There are tons of ways to find clients. I’ve found the best ones through my network that is, people who already know me or have worked with me in the past.
Once they see how much I love what I do and how hard I work, they’re happy to refer me to their friends and colleagues. Also: just be bold and ask! Most people will say yes if you’re confident enough to ask.
What’s Your Favorite Part About Freelancing?
My favorite part of freelancing is being able to pick my hours and work on things that interest me most. It also gives me an excuse not to go into an office every day (which sounds like heaven).
How Do I Know If One Job Is Better Than Another?
That depends on how much money they’re willing to pay you per hour and how many hours they expect from each project! The more money they’re willing to pay per hour, the better deal it is going to be for both parties involved (that means more money for you).
The fewer hours they expect from each project means less time spent working on something that isn’t going anywhere fast which means more time spent doing things that matter in life.
What Is The Difference Between Freelance And Full-Time Work?
Freelancing is similar to full-time work in that you are working with a company to complete a project.
However, the main difference between the two is that freelancers are not employed by the company they are working for.
Instead, they are hired on a project basis to do what they do best. Full-time employees are paid for their time, whereas freelancers are paid for their work.
What Are Some Signs That I Should Freelance?
If you’re interested in having more flexibility in your schedule or want to work from home, then freelancing may be right for you.
You’ll also need to think about whether or not you want to start your own business rather than work for someone else’s company. If so, then creating an LLC or other business structure could be beneficial for your tax situation as well as liability protection purposes.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.